KAM Manufacturing Inc

1197 Grill Road

Van Wert, OH, 45891

419-238-6037

Kim Adams started a sewing operation in her family’s garage in rural Northwest Ohio in 1984. The business was established to manufacture quilted handbags for a startup company in Fort Wayne, Indiana called Vera Bradley Designs. As Vera Bradley grew their business, Kim also grew her manufacturing operation to keep them supplied with handbags. The popularity of Vera Bradley bags increased slowly at first but steady, and as their sales grew so did Kim’s sewing operation. Over the years the sewing operation that started out with two employees grew to over 200 people. Her business name was officially changed to KAM Manufacturing Inc. in 1988. KAM moved a number of times to larger buildings that would handle the growing business. In 1999, KAM built a new building in Vision Industrial Park in Van Wert, Ohio.

After a 25 year relationship, in 2008, the board of directors at Vera Bradley decided to move 90% of the handbag production to China. KAM was disappointed with their decision, but looking back on a wonderful 25 year relationship that was made simply with a handshake, is something that our family will always be very proud of. KAM played a significant role in making Vera Bradley into a $400 million company that went from a privately held company to publicly traded company last fall. KAM produced nearly 15 million handbags for Vera Bradley over 25 years.

After the relationship with Vera Bradley ended, our family decided to come out with our own handbag line. Stephanie Dawn handbag line was successfully launched in late 2008. Since that time, we have seen steady growth with our handbag line with our online sales and close to 750 retailers across the country handling our Stephanie Dawn line. KAM is also producing products for other companies as well. It is important to note that, even with our own line and the contract work we are doing, we still have a great deal of manufacturing capacity. KAM is always looking for opportunities to partner with companies needing high volume, high quality manufactured products. KAM has produced products for other companies over the years, such as children’s clothes, beachwear, projects for Limited Express Company, military work and various other projects.

KAM is a family-owned business with each member of the family having different skills and job duties, adds to the strength and diversification of the company.

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The goal of Van Wert Works is to ensure that everyone in our community is aware of the jobs and careers available. Our local companies are in need of our local talent, who all too often do not realize the great opportunity right here in our own backyard.